Syrian exports rise by 6 percent

Syrian exports during the past year rose by 6 percent while imports rose by 14percent. The Syrian Central Statistics Department stated that Syrian exports increased from 44.5 billion Syrian liras in 1995 to 48.8 billion liras in 1996 while the imports increased from 52.8 billion liras in 1995 to 60 billion Syrian liras in 1996.

The Statistics Department said that oil topped the list of Syrian exports followed by phosphates, cotton, garments, wheat and grains. The imports were mainly engines and transportation products.

Italy is the biggest market for the Syrian exports. Syrian exports there rose from 10 billion Syrian liras in 1995 to 13 billion Syrian liras in 1996.

France came in the second place as the Syrian exports rose form 6 billion Syrian liras to 7 billion Syrian liras. Spain came in third place.

Germany remained the biggest exporter to the Syrian market despite the decrease in Syria's imports from 5.5 billion lira in 1995 to 4.8 billion in 1996. The US came after Germany as the amount of its exports to Syria was 4.3 billion liras, Italy came in the third place with 4 billion liras.